[Insert Hogarth photo here]

And I will be voting after work to do my bit.

I genuinely think voting should be mandatory; perhaps they should have postal ballots by default.

And I will be voting after work to do my bit.

I genuinely think voting should be mandatory; perhaps they should have postal ballots by default.

I postal voted for the first time this year. It's great. However, all that faffing with sticking one section in Envelope A, another in Envelope B, ensuring the right bit is showing through the envelope panel, and then getting the correct envelope in the other envelope, without covering up the correct address. I genuinely think that level of intellectual gymnastics would be beyond large swathes of our country.

We live in a free democracy where people are free to vote for whom they choose (or not). Forced voting is authoritarianism that I would not support.

I postal voted for the first time this year. It's great. However, all that faffing with sticking one section in Envelope A, another in Envelope B, ensuring the right bit is showing through the envelope panel, and then getting the correct envelope in the other envelope, without covering up the correct address. I genuinely think that level of intellectual gymnastics would be beyond large swathes of our country.

I genuinely think that level of intellectual gymnastics would be beyond large swathes of our country.

Not in Bradford

We live in a free democracy where people are free to vote for whom they choose (or not). Forced voting is authoritarianism that I would not support.

They should hold the election in the winter, on a Saturday.

Oh, christ. I agree with myp.

The realistic outcome of a non-forced voting system however is that the country's future is decided by selfish narrow-minded old people, because they're the ones that turn out.

On the other hand, in a forced voting system (which I don't support, in shock "agrees with myp" news) what's to say that the young wouldn't just turn out but spoil their ballot/refuse to vote/vote none of the above or whatever in protest to being forced to vote?

I drove past a polling station this morning (not in my constituency) and who I can only assume was the Lib Dem candidate (or a supporter, at least) was stood outside the polling station - directly outside the entrance - wearing a yellow rosette.

I thought wearing political symbols etc. like that was illegal when in/outside a polling station on election day?

What do people reckon then? I reckon that the Tories will gain about 30 seats or so.

On the other hand, in a forced voting system (which I don't support, in shock "agrees with myp" news) what's to say that the young wouldn't just turn out but spoil their ballot/refuse to vote/vote none of the above or whatever in protest to being forced to vote?

Spoiling your ballot is an utter waste of time. I know we talk about this every time, but they are never counted as part of official statistics. So those writing 'none of the above' protest votes are treated in the same way as someone accidentally crossing two candidates.

But whatever makes you feel good, I guess.

What do people reckon then? I reckon that the Tories will gain about 30 seats or so.

Hung Parliament

/Blind Optimism

civil disturbances, rioting, civil war, paramilitary death squads and Britain ending up as a barren, burnt out, poisoned wasteland.

It's certainly interesting, I wonder if there aren't perhaps going to be more than a few shy defectors out there. .

Are the #usepens twats active this year?

I sometimes wonder if some kind of demographic weighting could improve the democratic process, whereby your vote was multiplied by a certain proportion designed to eliminate disproportionate power in the hands of groups by age, gender, ethnicity etc.

I sometimes wonder if some kind of demographic weighting could improve the democratic process, whereby your vote was multiplied by a certain proportion designed to eliminate disproportionate power in the hands of groups by age, gender, ethnicity etc.

I doubt it could be perfectly implemented, but it could result in a vote outcome that is more representative of the population as a whole, not just those who vote.

Which reminds me: remember you are not obliged to give your electoral number to anyone outside.

I sometimes wonder if some kind of demographic weighting could improve the democratic process, whereby your vote was multiplied by a certain proportion designed to eliminate disproportionate power in the hands of groups by age, gender, ethnicity etc.

Could you expand on this? See, I'm sure I almost black out when I get there, because I'm always confused to what's happened.

You go into the polling station, the official asks for your address and name, and issues you with a ballot form. See: https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-d ... -in-person.

People outside the polling station, called 'tellers', are party activists checking their lists to see who's voted so they can decide where to mobilise their get-out-the-vote campaigns.
If anyone makes you feel unhappy or unsafe in or around the polling station, find an official and tell them.First time I voted I felt very uncomfortable going in and going out but these days I just walk straight past the party people and don't make eye contact.